SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The day after Thanksgiving, Illinois Springfield (3-1) showed no signs of a holiday lag as they beat Missouri Southern (2-4) 73-69. UIS rallied behind a stellar performance from Destiny Ramsey and 21 points from Tehya Fortune to take down the Lions. Syerra Cunningham added her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds while Ramsey scored a game-high 23 points, had five assists, five rebounds, four blocks, and six steals in 39 minutes.

Illinois Springfield jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first 75 seconds as Fortune scored the first five points for UIS before Cunningham made it 7-0 and forced Missouri Southern to take their first timeout. UIS grew the lead to 14-1 as Fortune hit another three and the run was capped by a jumper from Ramsey. With 3:42 remaining in the quarter, UIS completely dominated the game.

The Lions came would not go away though, ending the quarter on a 13-0 run in the final 3:29 to tie the game up at 14 after the opening 10 minutes. UIS missed their last eight shots of the first quarter but did not surrender the lead.

Ramsey opened the quarter with two free throws to give UIS a 16-14 lead but the Lions came right back and tied it on the next possession. Jasmine Sangster hit her first three of the night to push UIS ahead 19-16 and they would not tie or trail for the remainder of the half. UIS pushed the lead to nine with 39 seconds to go on a three from Shelbi Patterson and went into halftime with a 34-27 lead.

The Lions fought back to tie the score at 41 but again, could not take the lead as Fortune came up with yet another big three before layups from Ramsey and Patterson extended the lead to seven in a span of 67 seconds.

Leading by five going into the fourth, UIS saw the lead dwindle to two in the first minute before the Lions tied the game once more at 50 on a jumper with 7:32 remaining. Cunningham scored the next three points to regain the lead before Fortune finished an old-fashioned three-point play to give UIS a 56-50 lead with 6:19 to go.

Missouri Southern would trim the deficit to as little as one with 5:22 to play but would not get any closer as Cunningham and Fortune hit back-to-back dagger three's to give UIS a five point lead. UIS hit just two of their final six free throws but it was enough to hold off the Lions for the 73-69 victory.

Cunningham scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the second half alone en route to her 13 point, 14 rebound night. Ramsey was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in the second half for 13 points while Fortune was 3-for-4 and 2-for-2 from deep in the final 20 minutes. On the night, Fortune was 7-for-9 and 4-for-5 from deep and dished out three assists and grabbed three boards.
 
UIS will open GLVC play next Thursday as they welcome in Bellarmine University for a 5:30 pm tip-off.